Brent anti-library cuts campaigners' legal fight comes to end

ANTI-cuts campaigners have failed in their last-ditch bid to prevent Brent Council closing half the borough's 12 libraries.

The Supreme Court on Friday - the eve of National Libraries Day - refused the Brent SOS Libraries group leave to appeal a decision by the Court of Appeal that sanctioned the Labour-run authority shutting Barham Park, Cricklewood, Kensal Rise, Neasden, Preston and Tokyngton branches to save s1million.

Margaret Bailey, a director and trustee of the Friends of Kensal Rise Library, and one of the three official appellants, said: "I think in this instance what the judges have done is simply state the council decision was lawful, meaning it's lawful to make cuts, but the impact of that is that things like the Equality Act and the Human Rights Act could be disregarded if local councils don't have the wherewithall to enforce them."

Despite campaigners' legal options being exhausted, they will continue to lobby culture secretary Jeremy Hunt to order an inquiry into whether Brent Council is fulfilling its duty under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to provide a 'comprehensive and efficient' library service.

Mrs Bailey said: "The complaints to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport are still ongoing from Brent SOS Libraries. They have been asked to respond to these complaints, otherwise they could be trouble legally."

In the wake of the Supreme Court decision, the Friends of Kensal Rise Library want the council to reconsider its proposals - dismissed when the closure plans were originally voted through by the Labour administration in April 2011 - to run Kensal Rise Library as a community project with volunteers at no cost to the taxpayer.

Mrs Bailey explained: "The time has come for a new partnership. By seeking to re-open our local library, the Friends seek not only to make books and facilities available, but to promote social cohesion in these tough economic times.

"We appeal to Brent to work with us to preserve this vital local resource.

The legal fight, which cost more than s100,000, began in July at the High Court with a judicial review that came down in favour of the council and ended on Friday with the Supreme Court's order.

The order said: "The application does not raise an arguable point of law of general public importance which ought to be considered by the Supreme Court at this time, bearing in mind that the case has already been the subject of judicial decision and reviewed on appeal and in the light of the particular facts of the case."

Brent SOS Libraries will have to pay Brent Council's costs of the case.

Brent Council leader Councillor Ann John (Labour) said: "We are extremely pleased that the Supreme Court has found unanimously in the council's favour in not granting any further leave to appeal against Brent's library transformation programme.

"This final decision fully vindicates the council's actions and upholds the earlier decisions of the court of appeal and the high court that the council has acted lawfully.

"We can now put the past behind us and focus our attentions fully on improving and developing a better library service for the people of Brent."